By Jane B. Mansaray
A suspended member of the Sierra Leone Police Force with the rank of a Sergeant and with Force Number 7542 Mohamed Kanu was yesterday convicted on an amended indictment of manslaughter and sentenced to fifteen (15) years in prison to be served at the Pademba Road Maximum Male Correctional Centre in Freetown.
Giving the fact of the matter before the court, the State Prosecutor, Elizebeth Titty Jalloh said prior to the unlawful killing ofย the victim, Salifu Turay was a member of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) with Force No RSLAF 18167125 and was residing at Block C1.10 at Wilberforce Military Barracks in Freetown together with his family.
According to Lawyer ET Jalloh, the convict was an Operational Support Division (OSD) Officer attached to Cockerill and a boyfriend of the deceased wife, Jeneba.
At some point in time, Prosecuting Counsel said the deceased, Salifu Turay as husband had a conflict with his wife, Jeneba and during that period, the wife moved to stay with the convict at No.38 Cantonment Road, Red Pump in Freetown.
The wife later reconciled with her husband (the deceased) and then returned to her matrimonial home at Wilberforce Barracks. While at the Barracks, the wife, Jeneba was in communication with her boyfriend, the convict.
In the process, Jeneba informed the convict, Mohamed Kanu about a plot of land owned by her husband located at Gloucester Village in the Rural District of Freetown.
Jeneba further informed the convict that her husband was willing and ready to sell the said plot of land to a buyer.
Jeneba gave her husband`s mobile number to the convict and instructed him (convict) to call the deceased to express his interest in the land.ย He further told the convict that would like to see the land in question.
On the 18th March 2015, the convict, Mohamed Kanu called the deceased Salifu Turay in relation to the said plot of land and both the convict and deceased agreed to meet at a place called `30 Junction’ for onward journey to the site.
The deceased left with his motor bike and picked up the convict who was coming from his place of work at Cocekrill carrying a gun with him and they both proceeded to Gloucester.
RSALF 18167125 stopped by and parked the bike, to proceed to the land on foot and it was during that period that Mohamed Kanu, the convict shot the deceased. The deceased was struggling from the gunshot wound inflicted on him when the news broke to the family. A military ambulance was sent to the scene of crime and the victim was picked up and taken to the Connaught Hospital where he subsequently died on the same day.
Mohamed Kanu was arrested on the 21st March 2015, investigated and charged to court on a murder charge with preliminary investigation conducted at the Magistrate Court.
The matter was later committed for trial at the High Court where he pleaded not guilty to the indictment.
The murder indictment was later reduced to manslaughter on an amended charge sheet by State Counsel and the accused, now convict, pleaded guilty to the offense.
According to the convict, at the scene of crime, the deceased picked up a fight with him and as an OSD officer on a night duty, his riffle was on the alert position, but wanted to put it to the safe mood, when during the struggle, the trigger mistakenly exploded. According to the accussed, he later left for his house.
“My Lord, I asked for mercy as I have regretted my action and I say sorry to the deceased relatives,” the convict Mohamed Kanu pleaded.
Defense counsel, K. Kanu from the Legal Aid Board pleaded with the presiding Judge, Justice Musu Damba Kamara to tamper justice with mercy and to consider a preferable sentence of 8 years, including the time already spent in remand
Though the maximum sentence is life imprisonment, the State Prosecutor proffered a sentence of twelve years, including the time already spent.
40-year-old Mohamed Kanu was sentenced to 15 years, including the time spent from the 21st March 2015.
